Ball games apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a ball games apparatus comprising a support, a target mounted on the support, and a tether connected to the support, the tether comprising a ball at a free end thereof, wherein the target comprises a border frame member comprising an aperture therethrough, the ball being arranged to pass through the aperture, in use, and wherein the border frame member comprises a gap in the border frame member, through which gap the tether can pass, in use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ball games apparatus.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known to provide an apparatus which allows a person to kick a ball or hit a ball with a racquet, in a small area of space, without a need for a person to run after the ball once struck.

For example, in WO 88/07881, there is provided a device to allow a person to kick a football, or hit a tennis ball, basket ball, volley ball, or other ball, in order to train skills without the ball moving a significant distance from the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a frame, comprising a telescopic member which includes a tether having a ball on one end thereof, the tether being connected to the telescopic frame. Thus, a user would kick the ball at the end of the tether, or hit the ball with a racquet, in order to train their skills, and increase co-ordination and/or power. As the ball is connected to the tether, which is in turn connected to the frame, the ball is prevented from travelling a significant distance from the apparatus. The apparatus described in WO 88/07881 does not include any target area towards which the user may direct the ball, to improve accuracy and provide more enjoyment.

In other known apparatus, a target is provided, which allows a user to direct a ball in a given direction and area, in order to improve accuracy, and add more enjoyment to the use of the apparatus. For example, in FR 2741541, there is provided an apparatus comprising a post which includes a number of differently shaped targets having apertures therethrough, through which the user may kick or hit a ball as desired. Again, the ball of the apparatus is attached to the post by a tether. However, in this apparatus, and in other known apparatus, the tether is such that when the ball is struck, and if the ball enters one of the targets, the tether wraps around the frame of the target and can become additionally entangled within the target of the apparatus, thus leading to the situation wherein the user must untangle and unthread the tether before using the apparatus a second time.

There is therefore a need to provide a ball game apparatus which provides a target enabling a user to increase his or her accuracy, but which apparatus does not result in the situation of the tether line of the ball becoming entangled with the support of the apparatus and/or the target.

It is therefore an aim of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to overcome or mitigate at least one problem of the prior art, whether expressly disclosed hereinabove or not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball game apparatus comprising a support, a target mounted on the support, and a tether connected to the support, the tether comprising a ball at a free end thereof, wherein the target comprises a border frame member comprising an aperture therethrough, and wherein the border frame member comprises a gap in the border frame member, through which gap the tether can pass, in use.

Suitably the support is an elongate support. Preferably the support is moveable to increase and decrease the length of the support.

Preferably the support comprises a telescopic elongate member.

The support may comprise a base member, arranged in use to balance the support on the ground. The base member may comprise an open or closed frame, oriented substantially at right angles to the support. The base member may comprise an elongate frame member shaped as a spiral, curved or which is substantially circular. Preferably the base member is integral with the support of the ball game apparatus, and extends substantially perpendicular to the support. Alternatively, the base member may be separate to the support, and connected thereto. In alternative embodiments, the base member may comprise a closed frame, having a circular, rectangular, square, triangular, hexagonal or octagonal shape, for example.

Preferably, the base member has a diameter greater than the diameter of the target of the ball games apparatus. Suitably, the ratio of the diameter of the target to the ratio of the diameter of the base member is at least 1:1.1, preferably at least 1:1.15, and more preferably at least 1:1.25.

Preferably the border frame member of the target comprises a substantially circular hoop, with a gap in the circular frame member. The frame member may comprise a plurality of members, detachably connectable to form the border frame member of the target. When the target is a hoop, preferably the hoop comprises two substantially semi-circular frame members which are detachably connectable to form the substantially circular hoop.

Preferably the gap in the border frame member is located adjacent to the position or region of the border frame member where the border frame is mounted on or connected to the support. Suitably, the target is mounted on the support such that the aperture through the frame member is positioned substantially above the support, and preferably the gap in the frame member is located towards the bottom of the frame member.

The tether may be any suitable flexible, elongate member, such as a cord or rope, for example. Preferably the tether is an elastic member, such as an elasticated cord or elasticated rope, for example.

Suitably the tether is connected to the support by way of a tether anchor. The tether anchor may be rotatable around the support. The tether anchor may comprise a hook or the like, to which the tether may be connected. Alternatively, the tether anchor may comprise a bracket, to which the tether may be connected. The tether may be detachably connected to the tether anchor, or fixedly connected to the tether anchor.

The ball may be any suitable ball intended to be kicked or thrown by user, or hit with a racquet or bat, and is preferably a round ball such as a football, baseball, basketball, tennis ball or golf ball, for example, or maybe an oval ball such as a rugby ball or American football, for example. Preferably the ball is a round ball.

Suitably the ball is connected to the tether, such that it is rotatable in at least one direction.

The support, target and base member may comprise a metal (including alloy) or a plastics material. Suitably the support, target and base member are constructed from aluminium, steel, stainless steel or alloys thereof.

Suitably the gap in the frame member is wide enough for the tether to pass through the gap, but not so wide that the ball may pass through the gap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiment of the same may be put into effect, the various aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a preferred embodiment of a ball games apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 without the tether and ball; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a top-down perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 without the tether and ball.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

We refer to FIGS. 1 to 3. A preferred embodiment of a ball games apparatus 2 of the invention comprises a support 4 which is telescopic in order to enable the length of the support to be shortened or lengthened. Connected to the upper end of the support 4 is a target comprising a border frame member in the form of a hoop 6. The hoop 6 comprises an aperture 8 therethrough, through which objects may pass from one side of the hoop to the other. The hoop 6 includes a gap 10 at the bottom of the hoop 6 adjacent to the location where the hoop 6 is mounted on support 4. Thus the hoop 6 is not a complete circular member.

The support 4 has at its lower end a base member 12 which is substantially spiral and comprises an arm 22 perpendicular to the support 4, at the end of which arm 22 extends a loop 24 which is not quite circular but comprises at least 270° of a circle. The diameter of the loop 24 is greater than that of the diameter of the hoop 6. The ratio of the diameter of the hoop 6 to the ratio of the diameter of the loop 24 is approximately 1:1.1. Connected to the support 4 is a tether anchor in the form of a bracket 14. Connected to the bracket 14 is a tether in the form of an elastic cord 16. At the free end of the elastic cord 16 is a ball connecting member 18, to which is rotatably connected a ball 20.

Use of the ball games apparatus 2 with the preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to all the figures. A user firstly locates the ball games apparatus 2 in any convenient position. A user may then, for example, kick the ball 20 which is attached to the tether 16, towards the aperture 8 in the hoop 6. If the ball misses the hoop 6 and travels outside the outer periphery of the hoop 6, the elasticated cord 16 stretches to a defined point, then recoils, and the ball will eventually fall back to the ground level. At this point as user may then kick the ball towards the hoop 6 a second time. If the ball 20 is kicked through the aperture 8 of the hoop 6, the ball passes from one side of the hoop 6 to the other side of the hoop 6, and the elasticated cord will follow the ball 20 through the hoop 6. As the ball 20 then falls to the ground, the elasticated cord 16 will also drop towards ground level. As the elasticated cord 16 drops towards ground level, it passes through the gap 10 in the hoop 6, so that both the ball and all of the elasticated cord 16 are free of the hoop 6. As can be seen in the diagrams, this enables the user to continually kick the ball 20 through the hoop 6 without the elasticated cord 16 being tangled or entwined in the hoop 6, and thus prevents the need for a user to manually untangle the cord 16 from the hoop 6 after each successful kick of the ball 20 through the aperture 8. Thus the invention provides a ball games apparatus 2 in which a user need not stop after a single kick of the ball in order untangle the elasticated cord 16 and/or ball 20. The apparatus also does not comprise complications mechanisms to prevent entanglement of the tether in the target, and therefore saves on manufacturing costs, and mitigates the likelihood of malfunction of the apparatus.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, the ball 20 may be replaced by an oval ball, such as a rugby ball or American football, which again can be kicked through the hoop 6. In yet other alternative embodiments of the invention, the ball may be replaced by a ball which needs to be hit by a racquet, bat or golf club through the hoop 6.

In further embodiments of the invention, the hoop 6 may be replaced by a target of differing shape, such as a square framework, an oval framework, a triangular framework, a hexagonal framework, or any other shaped framework having an aperture therethrough, and having a gap in the framework.

In yet further embodiments, the tether anchor may be connected to a rotatable portion of the support 4, such that if the ball 20 is kicked and does not go through the aperture 8 of the hoop 6, the tether will not wrap round the support 4, due to rotation of the tether anchor. In this way the apparatus becomes even more useful to a user, as the chance of the tether entangling around any part of the apparatus is minimised.

The base member 12 comprises a substantially spiral member, which has a diameter larger than the diameter of the hoop 6. The ratio of the diameter of the hoop 6 to the base member 12 is at least 1:1.1. This enables the apparatus to be used without the likelihood of the apparatus tipping over due to the force of the ball 20 being kicked or hit. Applicant has surprisingly found that if the diameter of the base member 12 is larger than the diameter of the hoop 6 in a ratio of at least 1:1.1, the apparatus 2 is relatively stable.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 

1. A ball games apparatus comprising a support, a target mounted on the support, and a tether connected to the support, the tether comprising a ball at a free end thereof, wherein the target comprises a border frame member comprising an aperture therethrough, the ball being arranged to pass through the aperture, in use, and wherein the border frame member comprises a gap in the border frame member, through which gap the tether can pass, in use.
 2. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support comprises a base member, arranged in use to balance the support on the ground.
 3. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 2 where the base member comprises an open or closed frame oriented substantially perpendicular to the support.
 4. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the base member has a diameter greater than the diameter of the target.
 5. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the border frame member of the target comprises a substantially circular hoop comprising an aperture therethrough, and a gap in the circular frame member.
 6. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gap in the border frame member is adjacent to the portion of the border frame member mounted on the support.
 7. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the target is mounted on the support such that the aperture through the frame member is positioned substantially above the support, and the gap in the frame member is located towards the bottom of the frame member.
 8. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tether is connected to the support by way of a tether anchor.
 9. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the tether anchor is rotatable about the support.
 10. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball is connected to the tether such that it is rotatable in at least one direction about the tether.
 11. A ball games apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gap in the frame member is wide enough for the tether to pass through the gap, but not so wide that the ball may pass through the gap. 